wildfire

Fire Study Stirs Controversy

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 23:56:05 +0000

A controversial study that questions decades of forest ecology research has made headlines across the country. The study -- published earlier this year -- raised eyebrows especially in the west where forest managers have been trying to prevent severe wildfires for decades.

How to Repair a Fire-Damaged Forest

Zac Ziegler — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 11:00:00 +0000

When this summer’s monsoons hit, officials from the Prescott National Forest worried.

Fire Starts by the Numbers

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:47:30 +0000

While New Mexico has received enough rain to lift some fire restrictions, other parts of the southwest are still dry. That makes them vulnerable to lightning sparked fires, as well as human caused fires.

Fearing Fire, Flagstaff Cracks Down on Homeless in Forests

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:35:15 +0000

The southwest as a region has the highest number of homeless people in the nation.

A desperate economy and rising temperatures have forced more people who are homeless to take shelter in the cooler national forests, like the San Bernardino in southern California and the Coconino in northern Arizona. Forest officials are concerned -- more people in the woods means more wildfires.

The Hard Work of Putting Out Wildfires

Zac Ziegler — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:02:36 +0000

Scenes of wildfires are almost commonplace this time of year in the southwest

Photos of billowing smoke and threatening orange flames…

Firefighters weighted down with equipment…

Homeowners looking weary and frightened…

Behind the dramatic images though are sometimes hundreds of men and women putting in long hours in poor conditions, doing dangerous work.

Media reports about the Gladiator Fire, southeast of Prescott, routinely mentioned rough terrain slowing down fire fighters.

Gila Fire on Pace to Break Record

Elaine Baumgartel — Wed, 30 May 2012 01:25:27 +0000

A wildfire raging out of control in southwestern New Mexico grew by 30 square miles overnight Monday. The massive blaze is on track to become the largest in the state's history.

Whipped by strong winds, the Whitewater Baldy Complex fire is expected to break the record set by last year's devastating Las Conchas wildfire that scorched 244 square miles. It's burned at least a dozen summer cabins and is a long way from containment.

Firecrews Making Progress on Gladiator Fire

Zac Ziegler — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:16:15 +0000

Red Flag warnings are causing the Gladiator Fire to spread quicker than it has in recent days.

The damage increased over 600 acres since Monday. It now stands at just over 15,600 acres.

Control numbers continue to rise, with the fire now 26% contained.

Some of the resources used on the fire are being diverted to new wildfires in Arizona.

Gerry Perry with the Gladiator Fire Incident Management Team:

“We did lose four air tankers that left for other fires.”

Fire Season Has Arizonans On Edge

Gillian Ferris — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:15:51 +0000

This is the time of year when a puff of smoke on the horizon can raise the hair on the back of your neck. Is it a prescribed burn? Or is it the makings of the state's next massive wildfire? Arizona has experienced two of the largest forest fires in recorded state history in the last decade. And, as Arizona Public Radio's Gillian Ferris Kohl reports, the onset of fire season has a lot of Arizonans on edge.

Flagstaff resident Lisa Skinner grew up in a household of firefighters and has been ready to evacuate her whole life.

Experts: Drought, Climate Change Make Mega Fires Inevitable

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:36 +0000

Several large wildfires continue to burn in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. Severe drought led to an aggressive start to this year’s fire season.